The first autistic Barbie doll was introduced this week, featuring design elements intended to foster greater understanding of people with autism.
The doll was developed in partnership with ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network), a non-profit disability rights organization run by and for autistic people that advocates for the rights of the autistic community, according to Mattel. The doll is part of the Barbie Fashionistas collection, featuring a diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and various medical conditions and disabilities.
This new Barbie features elbow and wrist articulation, enabling stimming, hand flapping, and other hand gestures that some members of the autistic community use to process sensory information or express excitement, Mattel said. The doll is designed with an eye gaze shifted slightly to the side, which reflects how some members of the autistic community may avoid direct eye contact, according to the announcement from Mattel.
Each doll comes with a pink finger-clip fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones and a tablet. The doll also wears a loose-fitting, purple pinstripe A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact. Purple shoes complete the outfit, with flat soles to promote stability and ease of movement, the toy company said.
Local advocates said this week that the new Barbie represents a “thoughtful step forward in inclusive representation.”
“This Barbie does more than look different; she reflects lived experiences. From
communication tools and noise-canceling headphones to physical traits such as averted
eye gaze, hand-flapping, and comfortable clothing, the doll mirrors common sensory and
communication realities for many people with autism,” read a statement to Able News from the Smithtown-based Developmental Disabilities Institute, which has spent 65 years supporting children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. “When these characteristics are portrayed with care and intention, they send a powerful message: difference is not something to be hidden, but understood and respected. Representation builds self-esteem. When children see themselves depicted with dignity, it reinforces their sense of belonging and worth. Equally important, inclusive toys shape how peers understand one another.”